(ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION) Julia Louis-Dreyfus, an American comedian whose career on the improv stage led to iconic roles on shows such as Seinfeld, was honored on Sunday (October 22) for contributing to the national culture.

Louis-Dreyfus gained fame as Elaine - the perpetually single neurotic in Jerry Seinfeld's ensemble sitcom - but her role as a blundering politician on the HBO show Veep has brought more acclaim.

On Sunday evening, Louis-Dreyfus was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center, the national showcase for arts.

Dreyfus, 57, was praised as an actor who could nail a farcical role and then deliver a satire with smarts.

Sunday night's ceremony will be broadcast on PBS on Nov.

19.

Louis-Dreyfus has earned six consecutive Emmy awards portraying Vice President Selina Meyer - a haul that surpassed that of past female comedy icons like Mary Tyler Moore or Lucille Ball.

A send-up of Washington power-brokers, Veep has aired on HBO since 2012 but the show took a hiatus when Louis-Dreyfus was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

Last week, Louis-Dreyfus said she is cancer free and is wrapping up the last season of Veep.